Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 18: Taleigao has been grappling with a crippling water crisis for over 50 days, leaving nearly 500 households across seven wards without access to clean drinking water. What began as a disruption has now spiraled into a public health emergency, with E. coli contamination detected in the local supply and pipeline replacement efforts dragging on without resolution.

Despite repeated assurances from the Public Works Department (PWD) that restoration was imminent—most recently promising relief by May 17—residents continue to wake up to dry taps. Over the weekend, frustrations were further inflamed when a major water pipeline burst, worsening an already dire situation.

For many, the situation has become unbearable. Some families are packing up and leaving their homes, treating the exodus as a “forced vacation,” albeit one laced with anxiety and inconvenience.

“There’s nothing restful about this so-called holiday,” said Borbhat resident Sarita Kamat. “We’ve tried booking private tankers, but they’re either unaffordable or don’t show up. We’re buying bottled water daily just to drink. This cannot go on.”

In another part of Taleigao, Vishwesh Mandrekar described booking travel tickets—not for leisure, but as a last resort. “We put off going anywhere for our children’s exams. But now, we’re left with no choice. We can’t live like this anymore. Tankers are unreliable and expensive. We hope the situation improves by the time we return.”

Entire neighbourhoods like Vodlem Bhat, Borbhat, Cardoz Vaddo, Shankarwadi, Durbhat, Durgawadi, and Posrebhat remain cut off from a clean and consistent water source. The crisis has forced vulnerable groups, including families with infants and elderly members, to seek refuge with relatives in nearby Panaji or the surrounding areas.

“We have a newborn,” said one mother who has temporarily relocated. “Washing bottles, clothes—it all needs clean water. We had to move, even if it means a longer commute.”

Borewells, the only fallback option in many areas, are also nearing depletion.

PWD officials claim work is ongoing to replace roughly 500 faulty connections, but residents say progress is too slow and communication too sparse. PWD Executive Engineer Sarita Shirodkar remained unreachable despite several attempts for comment.

As Taleigao remains parched, patience is wearing thin—and the community is still waiting for more than just water. They’re waiting for answers, and action.